Britain’s Got Talent finalist Stacey Leadbeatter has been announced as the headline performer for this year’s Skipton Christmas Lights switch-on event.
Yorkshire singer Stacey, who received KSI’s ‘golden buzzer’ on this year’s series of the ITV show, will be the final act on stage before Christmas is officially turned on in the town by former England women’s footballer Jean Elliott on Sunday 30th November.
Stacey will follow a day of music and dance on the Your Skipton stage, which will include performances from groups including Northern Dance Centre, Sheldon’s School of Performing Arts and Articulate Drama School.
There will also be live music from Skipton Ukulele Club and the Voices of Yorkshire choir.
Stacey Leadbeatter, who lives in Keighley, won the hearts of the nation after her rendition of the Leona Lewis and Snow Patrol song ‘Run’ at the Britain’s Got Talent auditions in Blackpool. She received the most public votes in her semi-final and went on to appear in the live final at the end of May this year, which was won by magician Harry Moulding.
At the time of her audition Stacey was working at Morrison’s cooking chickens and also worked in the cafe at Booths in Ilkley - but she’s since quit supermarket life to pursue her music career, and now performs in venues across the North. She’s also releasing her first single, ‘Stand As One’ this month, which is an original song about her personal journey of overcoming mental health struggles.
Speaking to Alex Cann on Your Skipton Radio’s breakfast show today (Thursday) about the song, she said:
“ I've been working with a really talented songwriter called Matthew Moore. I told him my story because I've had mental health issues for a very long time, also around my confidence in singing and then my Britain's Got Talent journey. He’s turned it into this beautiful song, which I think a lot of people will be able to relate to in different ways, and I'm really excited for people to hear it."
It will be a full-circle moment for Stacey to perform in front of thousands of people on Skipton High Street at an event where she used to come as a child. She added:
“I’m definitely going to sing my favourite Christmas song which is O Holy Night, and I’m going to sing some good cheesy Christmas songs that everyone loves to hear. Then obviously I’m going to have to do my audition song because I can’t help myself with that one - it’s kind of expected now!”
Listen to Stacey's interview with Alex Cann on the Your Skipton Podcast:
Watch Stacey's Britain's Got Talent audition:
Stacey Leadbeatter headlines the Skipton Christmas Lights Switch-On Event on Sunday 30th November organised by Skipton Town Council.
From 11am on the day the Skipton Santa Fun Run takes place, followed by an afternoon of music and dance performances on the Your Skipton stage. Skipton-born Lionesses player Jean Elliott, who represented England in the 1971 Women’s World Cup in Mexico will then join Santa and the town’s Mayor on stage to flick the switch and light up Skipton at 5pm.
Skipton Town Council’s chief officer Louise Close said:
“This is one of the biggest days in the calendar for Skipton with loads of festive fun for everyone. As well as the entertainment on stage there’ll be market stalls and traders providing tasty food and drinks plus games and a helter skelter ride!"
“It’s always a pleasure to work together with the local Rotary clubs, Skipton BID, Your Skipton and all our fantastic local businesses and charities to put on such a brilliant day, which always really brings our community together.”
The switch-on event on 30th November kickstarts Christmas in Skipton, with the famous Skipton Christmas Markets then taking place on the subsequent two Sundays – 7th and 14th December.
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